Palace Walk

In al-Sayyid Ahmad’s family, the novel explores the drastic measures that the patriarch, al-Sayyid Ahmad, takes to enforce his dominion over the lives of everyone in his household. According to al-Sayyid Ahmad’s rules, women are not even allowed to leave the house, and this restriction is unique even in the local community, as many other women in the novel are permitted to leave their houses as and when they please. Although the novel is designed to highlight the many misogynistic tendencies of Egyptian society during this time frame, it soon becomes clear that al-Sayyid Ahmad’s demands exceed even the most common forms of patriarchal authority in the area. Because everything in his house must proceed according to his rules, he creates a fear-based atmosphere of stern discipline, and the entire family dreads the prospect of his wrath if they disobey. At the same time, however, al-Sayyid Ahmad sees no need to adhere to his own rules, and thus, the strict austerity that he shows to his family is no more than a hollow mask with which he strives to conceal his love of parties, alcohol, and extramarital affairs.